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Following our Part 1 of the "Twelve Legendary Watch Families" series last week, we are coming back with the later half of the list. Up next in our list are six absolute icons from IWC, Panerai and more.

Let's check them out!

#7: The IWC Portugieser

What is it: It is safe to say IWC has one of the most comprehensive lineup of product offerings in the business, from the very sporty Pilot collection, to the exceptionally dressy Portofino line. However it is without a doubt the Portugieser that has cemented IWC's position as a top-notch, multi-category watch manufacturer. Dated all the way back to 1939, IWC was first commissioned by a pair of Portugese businessmen to create a men wristwatch with high accuracy, during a time when pocket watches and ladies wristwatch were still the mainstream products. To honour the request of the two Portugese customers, IWC resorted to using a pocket watch movement and created the first Portugieser out of it, which stood at a then staggering 43mm. Since then, the Swiss watchmaker has preserved the DNA of the original Portugieser and created a good deal of variations based on the same design aesthetics such as tourbillon, annual calendar and so on (to understand some of the key watch complications, go here.), which went on to become arguably the most successful collection of IWC.

What makes it great: To be honest, it is quite hard to point out one or two especially interesting or staggering traits about the Portugieser. It's certainly not as edgy as a Royal Oak, nor is it as classy as a Calatrava. But there's something special, almost comforting, about a slightly oversized Portugieser in a timeless design that really speak to us. It really doesn't matter in what form, or what types of complications the Portugieser manifests itself. You just know it's a Portugieser when you see it.

To learn more, go here. To have a quick sense of the many interpretations of the Portugieser, don't miss the following video:

#8: The Panerai Luminor

A Panerai Luminor ref. PAM372

What is it: A brand not unfamiliar in Hong Kong, Panerai is perhaps the most consistent of all major watchmakers when it comes to design philosophy. Founded in 1980 in Florence, Italy by the namesake family, Panerai has gone on to become an official supplier of waterproof, highly legible timepieces to the Royal Italian Navy in 1900s, all the way til the 1970s, when it became obvious that supplying small amount of wristwatches to the Navy was no long cost-effective. In 1993, the brand relaunched itself (and later got acquired by Richemont Group in 1997) in the civilian market and its iconic products caught the attention of none other than the Italian Stallion, Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone, who enjoyed the Panerai watches so much he wore one during the shooting of Daylight. The model? You guess it. The Luminor.

What makes it great: Just like a Reverso for Jaeger or a Royal Oak for AP, a Luminor is THE Panerai to own. Cased in the iconic cushion-shaped watch case and equipped with the unmistakably large crown guard, the Luminor boasts one of the most identifiable silhouettes in the business. Chunky, masculine and highly legible - thanks to the utilitarian design, generous space in the dial and extra-luminous "sandwich" dial - the Luminor is the watch of choice whenever you want to let off that rugged, Sylvester Stallone vibe.

#9: The Zenith El Primero

Zenith El Primero Original 1969 (photo courtesy: Bexsonn)

What is it: El Primero, or, "The First" in Spanish, is the name of both a historically significant movement created by Le Locle-based watchmaker Zenith, and the collection of watches powered by such movement. What's so special about the El Primero, both the movement and the watches? It is exceptionally important because the El Primero, revealed in 1969, was arguably the first everautomatic chronograph movement. While there were other automatic chronograph movements being created by other watchmakers (e.g. Heuer, Seiko) in the same year, the El Primero was objectively speaking superior because it is a fully integrated, 36,000 vph high-beat movement, ensuring a higher level of timing accuracy. The El Primero has ever since become Zenith's trump card and even Rolex came to Zenith for its El Primero movements to power its Daytonas. So you get the idea.

What makes it great: The El Primero is an absolutely legendary watch movement and the watches powered by it are no less impressive when viewed in their entirety. The original El Primero A386 has obtained a cult following and goes like hot cakes whenever one comes up in the market. Modern adaptations of the El Primero movement are as impressive and respected. Knowing how to appreciate a Zenith El Primero is very much an essential step to take if you want to be seen as a serious "insider" in the watch community. And hey, it doesn't hurt that El Primeros are handsome watches in their own right.

Close up shot of a modern rendition of the sublime El Primero movement (photo courtesy: watchonista)

#10: The Heuer Monaco

A 2015 Tag Heuer Monaco (photo courtesy: horbiter)

What is it: Just now we mentioned the El Primero was arguably the first ever automatic chronograph movement. The reason for such reservation? The Heuer Calibre 11. Also introduced in the year 1969 was the Calibre 11 from the then Heuer (the predecessor of Tag Heuer) which is a modular automatic chronograph movement that was used in a number of key Heuer collections which included the Monaco. A squared watch with bold, vibrant colour scheme evident shown on the dial, the Heuer Monaco has always been associated with the sport of racing and such association peaked when Steven McQueen donned it with his unique flair and cool in the racing movie Le Mans. The watch is 100% unorthodox and nonchalant, just like McQueen.

What makes it great: The fact that the movement used was a modular one (meaning a chronograph module was piggy-backed to a base movement) actually added to the height and presence of the watch. So if you ever wear a Monaco, people WILL notice. It's also just one of the those watches that are unapologetic in its design and comes with a very clear theme by making real-life association with the sport of racing. And if the King of Cool found it a great idea to race with a Monaco on his wrist, it probably won't fail you neither.

McQueen with his Monaco in movie Le Mans

#11: The Breitling Navitimer

What is it: The Breitling Navitimer (a combination of the words "Navigation" and "Timer"), firstly introduced in 1952, has been one of the most revered Pilot watches that is actually still being used by pilots around the world to this day. What sets it apart from the way other iconic, nonetheless more common Pilot watches were design (such as this Pilot watch we've covered not too long ago), is that it has set out to serve as a mini-computer to assist pilots on otherwise time-consuming tasks such as the calculation of fuel consumption, average speed and climbing speed etc. This is achieved by the interaction of the slide rule bezel and the multi-layer dial packed with useful scales. Back in a time when much happening in a cockpit were analog, a Navitimer could free its wearer a lot of trouble in gathering critical flight information.

What makes it great: This is a tool watch in the truest sense. I mean, you CALCULATE stuff with it just by turning the slide rule bezel and engaging the chronograph function. You're basically carrying with you a calculator except that it is entirely mechanical. Which is awesome. While we acknowledge not all of us aspires to become a pilot someday, strapping on a Navitimer might just be the quickest way to have a sense of what it feels to be one.

#12: The Seiko SKX007/009 Diver

What is it: The cheapest watch on the list yet one that could proudly hold it's own in the face of all the giants before it in the "Twelve Legendary Watches" list: the Seiko SKX007/009 Diver. I own a Seiko SKX009 so I could say a thing or two about it. Ladies and gentlemen, the SKX Diver is the best mechanical diver watch - heck, ANY mechanical watch - you could obtain for ~HKD1,200. PERIOD. It has all the essential features of a real deal diver including the rotatable bezel and a dial graced with Seiko's very own Lumibrite paint that gives the watch indexes a strong glow in the darkness of the deep sea. What's more amazing with this no-nonsense, entry-level diver is that despite its very humble price point, it is nonetheless ISO-6425 certified, a very specific and hard-to-meet set of criteria that dictates whether not or a watch could be marketed as a "diver". The movement is the workhorse, in-house Seiko 7s26: absolutely unadorned whatsoever but is it reliable? You bet.

What makes its great: Unparalleled value proposition. In terms of functionality and usability one could even argue it's right up there with a Rolex Sub. To truly appreciate the greatness of this unassuming Seiko, you have to read this story that recalls how Norman Schwarzkopf, a former US Army general always wore two watches in his time in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War: a Rolex Day-Date to tell the local time and guess what? A Seiko SKX009 to tell the Eastern Standard Time. This Seiko is THAT good.